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Evidence brief

How to report corruption in Bangladesh: official channels and safer options

How to report corruption in Bangladesh: Anti-Corruption Commission routes, what a complaint needs, the 2011 whistleblower law, its limits and safer practices.

Published 18 October 2026, Guide

Last reviewed 18 October 2026. Contact details and procedures change; check the official source before relying on this guide.

If you have seen bribery, theft of public money or abuse of office in Bangladesh, there are official routes to report it. This guide explains them, what a complaint should contain, what legal protection exists and where its limits are. Your safety comes first: read the safety sections before you act.

The Anti-Corruption Commission

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is the main body for corruption complaints. It was set up under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and deals with the offences listed in the schedule to that Act, such as bribery, misappropriation of public property and abuse of power by public servants.

How to contact the ACC

The ACC is the subject of continuing reform debate. A reform commission reported on it in 2025, and in 2026 Parliament sent an amending ordinance back to be redrafted as a bill. The 2004 Act remains the base law; check the ACC website for any change in procedure.

What happens to a complaint

Complaints are logged and sent to a complaint scrutiny cell at ACC headquarters. Reporting on the process has described complaints being graded on factors such as the position of the person accused, the amount of money involved, the supporting documents and the public impact. Complaints that fall outside the ACC's schedule, or are graded lower, may be forwarded to the ministry or department concerned. An ACC inquiry is not a finding of guilt.

What a good complaint contains

  1. Who: the office, post and, if relevant, name of the public servant involved.
  2. What: the act itself, described plainly. Stick to what you saw or what the documents show.
  3. When and where: dates, places, file or tender numbers.
  4. How much: amounts of money or the value of property, if known.
  5. Evidence: copies of documents you hold lawfully, such as receipts, letters, public tender records or records obtained under the Right to Information Act. Keep the originals.
  6. Your contact details: reporting has indicated that the ACC formally accepts complaints carrying the complainant's name and address. Think carefully about this before you send anything (see below).

Other official channels

The Public Interest Information Disclosure (Provide Protection) Act, 2011, Bangladesh's whistleblower law, names "competent authorities" to receive disclosures. Depending on the case, these include:

Disclosures can be made in writing, in person, by post or electronically, and should be supported by documents or material that back them up.

The whistleblower law and its limits

For disclosures made to a competent authority, the 2011 Act says:

In practice, the protection has limits:

See whistleblower laws in South Asia for how this compares with India and Pakistan.

Retaliation risks

People who report corruption can face pressure at work, false counter-complaints, online abuse or physical threats. The risk is higher if few people knew what you know, if you work for the body involved or if the person accused is locally powerful. Before you act, think about who could identify you from the details you give, and whether the documents themselves carry clues such as names, file numbers or hidden metadata.

Safer practices

Do

  • Use a personal device on a personal or public network, never a work one.
  • Keep a private, dated record of what you saw and when.
  • Share copies, not originals, and remove metadata first.
  • Keep proof of what you sent and to whom.
  • Get advice from a lawyer or a trusted civil society organisation if you are unsure.

Don't

  • Don't take documents you are not entitled to access, or break into systems or accounts.
  • Don't exaggerate or guess: report only what you know or what the records show.
  • Don't discuss your report with colleagues or on social media.
  • Don't pay anyone who offers to "help" with an ACC complaint.
  • Don't share classified or operational security material.

Our full source safety dos and don'ts covers devices, messaging and how to protect your identity.

When sharing with journalists may be appropriate

Official channels should usually come first. Sharing with a journalist may be worth considering if you have already reported and nothing has happened, if the people you would report to are involved, or if there is a clear public interest that is not being addressed. Remember that the 2011 Act does not expressly protect disclosures to the media.

If you decide to contact FaujiLeaks, use our secure tip form from a personal device on a personal or public network, never a work device or work network. We check every document, do not name sources without consent and give people we write about a right of response. Our standards explain how we work. For background on Bangladesh's institutions, see the Bangladesh public file.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How do I file a corruption complaint with the ACC in Bangladesh?

You can call the ACC's toll-free hotline, write to its headquarters or a district or divisional office, email it, or use complaint boxes at its offices. Check the current contact details on acc.org.bd.

Can I report corruption to the ACC anonymously?

Reporting indicates that the ACC formally accepts complaints carrying the complainant's name and address. An anonymous tip may still be looked at, but it is less likely to be formally registered.

Does Bangladesh have a whistleblower protection law?

Yes, the Public Interest Information Disclosure (Provide Protection) Act, 2011. It protects identity and employment for disclosures made to designated competent authorities, but not expressly for disclosures to the media.

What if my complaint is not within the ACC's powers?

The ACC deals with offences listed in the schedule to its 2004 Act. Complaints outside that list may be forwarded to the ministry or department concerned.

Can I be punished for making a false complaint?

Yes. Under the 2011 Act, a disclosure made knowing it is false, or without reasonable grounds to believe it, can lead to imprisonment, a fine or both. Report only what you know or what documents show.

Sources